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Some of you (Bob Flatpicker?) may find some of the details in this post disturbing - best read with care and sitting down with a cup of tea. The story begins in 1971, when I'd just got into doing session work. I was playing bass on this session and was sitting in the rec (recreation) room chatting to an older guy who was doing the acoustic guitar parts. He had a Martin which I noticed was strung with steel strings and a plain 3rd string, like an electric set, so I asked him why that was. He explained that years before, someone had suggested it to him as a way of making the guitar sound brighter and cleaner and that he'd liked the sound so much that he'd used an electric 11/48 set ever since. Rec rooms are a great source of information - most of what I know was learned in rec rooms. Anyway, I'd just bought a Fender acoustic - one of the first that Fender had had made in Japan at that time, so the next day I strung it with Rotosound 11/48 electric strings. It sounded fabulous. Nearly fifty years on, I'm still stringing it with electric strings. Over the intervening years, I've converted SO many people to this trick, though most were very suspicious at first, but hearing is believing. If you give it a try, be prepared to let the strings settle in for a few days before they sound their best - they can be a bit scratchy at first. And be prepared for the traditionalists to faint when they see what you've done.
Of course, maybe you've been doing this for years as well, in which case I'd be interested to hear your story.
Stay safe all,
ROG.
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And why not if it suits. I’ve over the years gone different ways for different reasons. What I really liked but after a while could not find was a .017 wound G string. This gave my old Telecaster a really smooth sound I’ve never achieved with a plain G string.
At one stage on a Hofner Electric guitar I used to use a .009 banjo string on the E and .011 (E string) on the B ... Why because where I was super light strings did not exist yet. (Or at least we’re not available in my area).
Over 50 odd years many things have been tried.
Last edited by Teunis; 09/30/20 01:26 AM.
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There are always horses for courses. Why not? Great story, and why not experiment with ideas? Otherwise the Piano would still be a Harpsichord 
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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For many years I used EB SS 9s on my acoustic. I could bend the heck out of those strings. However, there's always a drawback to the gains. The tone of the guitar was noticeably thinner. Fatter strings equal fatter tone. You can get bright tone with new strings.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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If you actually appreciate the tone of an acoustic guitar, then electric strings are an immediate thumbs down.
In order for an acoustic guitar to sound the way it's supposed to sound, the strings have to drive the top and make it vibrate.
When I was playing a lot, I always used medium gauge strings because they sounded so much better than light gauge.
Using electric strings on an acoustic guitar will just make it sound like a small transistor radio.
Use whatever you want. It's your guitar. Just don't try to join a live jam session because you'll instantly and deservedly get grief.
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ROG, If you're just setting up the acoustic to sit around and noodle on the couch, then electric strings do make it easier. But they sound like crap. If you do want to actually play an acoustic guitar, then man up and use acoustic strings.  It's worth it to just hear what an acoustic guitar actually sounds like.
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ROG, If you're just setting up the acoustic to sit around and noodle on the couch, then electric strings do make it easier. But they sound like crap. If you do want to actually play an acoustic guitar, then man up and use acoustic strings. It's worth it to just hear what an acoustic guitar actually sounds like. Hi Bob, Here's a challenge for you then. A short while ago I posted a tune called "One Morning" on the Showcase. This is a link to the thread- https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=610165&page=1About ten minutes before I recorded that track, I'd just re-strung the Taylor with Rotosound 11/48 steel. I don't like playing anything critical with strings that haven't settled, but at the time I didn't intend to use the track for anything - it was just one take whilst I tested the action. Still, it will serve as an example. Listen to the track, read ALL the reviews and let have your comments, good or bad - I know you won't hold back! At the end of the day, I've spent my life in studios. I'm a session player, not a live performer and the steel strings have served me well for about fifty years without complaint. Having said that, you can't please all the people..... ROG. EDIT - It occurs to me that in the almost nine years I've been on the forum, I don't remember hearing anything which you've played. Maybe you could "man up" as you say, and play something with your acoustic strings, so that we can have a comparison. 
Last edited by ROG; 09/30/20 12:03 PM.
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It occurs to me that in the almost nine years I've been on the forum, I don't remember hearing anything which you've played. Maybe you could "man up" as you say, and play something with your acoustic strings, so that we can have a comparison. I'm too out of practice to play anything "fresh", but in my signature is a link to a radio program. I'm playing my Martin Custom D-28, medium acoustic strings. I'll check out that link later and get back to you.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
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No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
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Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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